Asperger’s Syndrome has been described as a high functioning form of autism. It is an autism spectrum disorder. It isn’t always easy for a parent to realize that his or her child has Asperger’s Syndrome, for a number of reasons. The sooner you identify that your child has it, however, the quicker you can find treatments that can help your child.
One of my brothers has Asperger’s Syndrome. He is an adult now, and doing just fine, (with some help.) He lives with our parents, has a job, and is generally happy. When he was a child, however, Asperger’s Syndrome had not been “discovered” yet. At the time, we knew that something was very different about him, that was obvious to the other children in his classes at elementary school, but we did not yet have the words for what, exactly, that difference was. This means that he was not actually diagnosed as having Asperger’s Syndrome until he was nearly a teenager.
Today, there is a lot more information out there about the signs that indicate that a child may have Asperger’s Syndrome. Some of these signs start to become a little more obvious when a child is in preschool, and able to interact with other children of their age for the first time. Often, this is when a parent starts to become aware that their child is a little bit different than the other kids in his or her classroom.
There are many signs that indicate that a child may have Asperger’s Syndrome. Not all children who have this disorder will display each and every one of these signs, and not all of these signs are going to be as obvious in one individual as they could be in someone else. If you note that your child frequently displays many of these signs, this could indicate that it may be a good idea to speak with a doctor or psychologist who can make an official diagnosis.
According to WebMD some signs and symptoms include:
An inability to “pick up” on social cues, like body language, facial expression, or tone of voice
A strong dislike to any changes to an established routine
A tendency to avoid eye contact with other people, or to stare at other people
An inability to properly comprehend jokes or sarcasm
The existence of an intense focus on one specific interest that the child becomes an expert on.
For example, not only does Billy like trains, but Billy can tell you everything you could possibly have wanted to know about all the different types of trains, and how their engines function. He has also memorized the entire train schedule for all of the trains that cross the nearest railroad tracks. Billy wants to tell you all about trains, and doesn’t seem to notice that you are not as interested in trains as he is.
A heightened sensitivity to loud sounds, lights, textures, and/or strong tastes or smells.
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